B
BillW50
Flightless Bird
Well it is partly true. As I moved the Program Files folder to a flash
drive. I believe this is a useful tip for those with small system
drives. And unlike Hitachi microdrive filter, it doesn't slow down the
computer and isn't a pain in the butt to install. I came up with this
because my nephew's 4GB netbook was always running out of drive space.
You can't normally just install new programs on a flash drive, because
about 50% of them will refuse to install on a removable drive. Nor does
it help for the programs already installed. This method fixes both
problems.
I used BartPE to move all of the folders and files found in the Program
Files folders to a flash drive. I suppose any boot disc would work as
long as you can move folders with it. I tried using Windows Safe Mode,
but it wouldn't move everything. If someone gets it to work, let me
know. I didn't try that hard.
Now the system drive must be in NTFS format, the flash drive doesn't
matter. Now boot Windows in Safe Mode. If you miss the opportunity,
Windows will recreate some of the Program Files once again in Normal
Mode. I haven't tested what to do in this case, so you are on your own
here.
Now with Windows in Safe Mode, I haven't seen Windows needing anything
in the Program Files folder to function, so it appears to behave. Next
you need to use diskmgmt.msc to mount the flash drive in the Program
Files folder. And that is it. Now reboot normally.
Now all of your programs lives on the flash drive. And any programs you
add to Program Files, also gets saved to the flash drive. This frees up
lots of space on the system drive. Also I found no program that
complains running from a flash drive yet.
I only found two side effects so far. And I like to hear from others who
may have found more.
1) Best to uninstall Avast if you are using it. Then reinstall it after
the mounting is complete. It wasn't in the System Tray afterwords. So I
don't know if it was running or not. But uninstalling before or after
and reinstalling it again works great.
2) MS Works v9 breaks if you move the folder and then put it back again.
I don't know why, maybe this is some sort of copy protection.
And like always, make backups before you do anything. <grin>
--
Bill
Gateway MX6124 ('06 era) 2 of 3 - Windows XP SP3
drive. I believe this is a useful tip for those with small system
drives. And unlike Hitachi microdrive filter, it doesn't slow down the
computer and isn't a pain in the butt to install. I came up with this
because my nephew's 4GB netbook was always running out of drive space.
You can't normally just install new programs on a flash drive, because
about 50% of them will refuse to install on a removable drive. Nor does
it help for the programs already installed. This method fixes both
problems.
I used BartPE to move all of the folders and files found in the Program
Files folders to a flash drive. I suppose any boot disc would work as
long as you can move folders with it. I tried using Windows Safe Mode,
but it wouldn't move everything. If someone gets it to work, let me
know. I didn't try that hard.
Now the system drive must be in NTFS format, the flash drive doesn't
matter. Now boot Windows in Safe Mode. If you miss the opportunity,
Windows will recreate some of the Program Files once again in Normal
Mode. I haven't tested what to do in this case, so you are on your own
here.
Now with Windows in Safe Mode, I haven't seen Windows needing anything
in the Program Files folder to function, so it appears to behave. Next
you need to use diskmgmt.msc to mount the flash drive in the Program
Files folder. And that is it. Now reboot normally.
Now all of your programs lives on the flash drive. And any programs you
add to Program Files, also gets saved to the flash drive. This frees up
lots of space on the system drive. Also I found no program that
complains running from a flash drive yet.
I only found two side effects so far. And I like to hear from others who
may have found more.
1) Best to uninstall Avast if you are using it. Then reinstall it after
the mounting is complete. It wasn't in the System Tray afterwords. So I
don't know if it was running or not. But uninstalling before or after
and reinstalling it again works great.
2) MS Works v9 breaks if you move the folder and then put it back again.
I don't know why, maybe this is some sort of copy protection.
And like always, make backups before you do anything. <grin>
--
Bill
Gateway MX6124 ('06 era) 2 of 3 - Windows XP SP3